In 1912 Herefordshire County Council had bought 185 acres (75 ha) of the former Rotherwas estate from the Lubienski-Bodenham family, overlooked by Dinedor Hill and bordered by the Wye meadows.

[8][6][7] All components were produced elsewhere, with the facility responsible for final production: inserting explosive into shells and fitting detonators.

From June 1918, supplied with dichloroethyl sulphide by the National Smelting Company at Avonmouth Docks, the facility produced mustard gas shells.

[6][7][11] In 1939, the Credenhill Railway Sidings was requisitioned and shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War preparations and construction started with the station officially opening on 15 June 1940.

[2][1] The site was obtained by the British Army to redevelop for the Special Air Service headquarters base with the SAS subsequently moving there from Hereford in 1999.